Ok so I purchased a couple pokemon cards that were advertised as perfect and I asked the seller multiple questions to confirm they were NM-Mint. When I received them I took them out of their top loaders and they were all scratched up and dirty, FAR from mint. So I told the seller and he was totally fine with me returning them. He sent them to me in two separate envelopes so I proceeded to combine them to one because the weight was still under for a stamp and send them back. BIG MISTAKE. The cards were worth about $30. The cards took 2 maybe 3 days to arrive at my door from the seller when he sent them. Its now a week and a half since I sent them and the seller still hasn’t received them. I’m hoping somehow USPS was way slow. But I’m pretty sure at this point I’m screwed and one of two things has happened. Either 1) USPS dishonestly opened the envelope and stole the cards (It’s happened once to a card I order. The envelope came with the end ripped off and nothing inside) or 2) The seller is dishonest and is just claiming to not have received my card. Or I suppose 3) USPS lost a letter which doesn’t happen super often. Either way its looking like I’m out $30 which is super frustrating. Moral of the story. Spend the $2 freaking dollars to send it via First class with tracking. 
Always use tracking my friend, hopefully the seller is honest and will advise once received but considering he’s lying about the condition of the cards I would light a candle first.
light a candle? Y
Ya its not looking so good. 
Just letting you know @timewaster1700 not all postmen are after your cards.
Technically speaking, the envelopes you send cards in go through sorting machines and might get stuck and rip from there.
$2 for first class and tracking?
Seriously?
$2 would get my card to the states LOL!
USPS is so much cheaper.
Ah I didn’t even think of that! Dang that might be what happened
I hope its just being slow and does go through
I know I should never cheap out like that! I didn’t give it much thought but definitely should have 
Did the seller ship the cards to your address with tracking?
It may seem irrelevant, but I have heard of buyers winning a case after already receiving the item simply because the seller did not use Tracking. Them not using tracking voids any protection they have as a seller.
No they didn’t use tracking. They just sent via a stamp. Which makes me mad because I was charger $2 shipping per item and even asked to combine and he wouldn’t then it arrives I a couple envelopes he spent 44 cents sending. Idk it’s hard because if USPS is too blame I hate to make him loose the money as the seller.
Personally to me it sounds like he probably has received them and isn’t gonna admit it…
I doubt it is USPS’ fault but it is good to give him the benefit of the doubt.
If it’s only 30.00 I wouldn’t pay 2.00 to return either. One in a hundred may get lost so it’s not cost efficient.
If you’re concerned then tell him to refund the money along with 2.00 extra for return shipping PRIOR to mailing them back since he’s the one who mis-advertised condition. If he objects, then tell him you’ll just keep them but will have to leave truthful but negative feedback as eBay recommends.
Ya probably a good idea next time. Ugh now what to do this time. Its hard because as Soulwind said, its a tiny likelihood that USPS was at fault in this case but I’m not excited about calling him a liar. What’s frustrating is he got $30 of my money for cards that are worth more like $10 in their condition. His false advertising got him more money for them than deserved.
If he’s double your feedback then there’s a decent chance it just got lost which would mean you can’t blame him. BUT…you CAN blame him for the deceitful condition description and you should warn all your other ebayers of that so leave a negative. Maybe you can warn him first and give him a chance to offer a solution. Maybe your package will magically appear and you’ll get a refund;)
If you paid by PayPal, open a dispute. Tell them you received the cards, they weren’t as described, and you want a refund. PayPal almost always sides with the buyer.
Hmm should I open a dispute with ebay or paypal? Wow just noticed his ebay feedback score is 55 and is 100% positive, yet when you click into it and narrow it to his seller feedback, there are only 4 ratings. One is neutral and says that the cards weren’t as good as described. Another says “ok” and then the other two are for non pokemon items and are positive. This seems fishy, I think I will try opening a claim. Does anyone have a recommendation as to how to word the claim? I mean I sent the cards back, so opening a claim means I’m calling him a liar. Or should I say whether or not you got them is irrelevant to the fact they weren’t worth $33.86 and I should at least be partly refunded. Idk any tips?
I’d do it through ebay. No need to over-exaggerate problem, just say the item(s) didn’t match item description at all and you want to cancel deal + get refunded. Decision should easily end up in your favour. 
Ok but what should I say in regards to the fact I sent the cards back?
Keep in mind your talking about 30 bucks not 3000.00…fortunately. Plus, there’s no proof you returned anything.
Try what I said earlier. He may want to protect his 100% rating.
“”“If he’s double your feedback then there’s a decent chance it just got lost which would mean you can’t blame him. BUT…you CAN blame him for the deceitful condition description and you should warn all your other ebayers of that so you’ll have to leave a negative. Maybe you can warn him first and give him a chance to offer a solution. Maybe your package will magically appear and you’ll get a refund;)”""
Well good deal! I messaged the seller asking if he still hadn’t received them and said I was having a hard time seeing USPS taking almost two weeks to get them to him. He responded that he has the cards and apologized for the delay and said he’d refund tomorrow. So I’m not sure what the deal was but just what 2-3 days ago he said he still hadn’t got them. I think though in the future I will do tracking from cards $20 or more
Great…case closed.
Unfortunately, his impression of near mint was different from yours. He may have believed it. Its impossible to avoid those discrepancies. I’ve been grading cards since 1994 and I even get people disputing my pregrade condition estimates.
No real solution except maybe only buy from UPCCC eBayers;)
Glad to hear it worked out!